Russian pilots taken hostage in Sudan

NYLA, Sudan, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Three Russian pilots were abducted and are being held hostage in western Sudan, authorities said Monday.

The pilots, Russian citizens working under contract with Sudan's Badr Airlines, were kidnapped by a group of gunmen, the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass reported.

An earlier report by the Sudanese news agency SUNA reported two pilots were taken hostage in Nyla, the capital of South Darfur.

The Sudanese army and police blocked off an area and were searching for the pilots and their captors, SUNA said.

A Russian helicopter pilot was taken hostage in Darfur in late July but was released three days later, ITAR-Tass said.